Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Teamotions
Product Description:
Flavor Profile Rich and robust black tea with notes of citrus and vanilla.
Ingredients Earl Grey Black Tea, Black Congu Tea, Black Breakfast Blend, Neem leaf, Tulsi, Lavender, Cornflowers, Natural Flavors.
Emotional Benefit Improves mental function. Calms a racing mind. Helps restore one’s ability to think clearly under stress and emerge from denial or confusion.
Taster’s Review:
This is a remarkable and deliciously different variation on the classic Earl Grey, and I’m enjoying it quite a lot!
The black tea is quite bold, and no wonder! This is a blend of an Earl Grey black tea, a Black Congu, and a Breakfast Blend (Assam and Ceylon?) With that many different black teas forming the base of this blend, it made me wonder if the bergamot might get lost in the mix. But one sniff of the dry leaf assured me that the bergamot is definitely there.
The aroma of the brewed tea is quite delightful. I love the way the various black teas, bergamot, vanilla, tulsi, neem and lavender mingle together to create one very intriguing and nose-pleasing fragrance. This is a tea that you want to inhale deeply before taking a sip to get full effect from the scent as well as the flavor.
The black tea is bold and robust, and there is a fairly strong astringency to this cup – it is slightly drying and leaves the palate feeling clean so that the aftertaste of vanilla, bergamot and the slightest whisper of mint can be enjoyed.
The bergamot flavor is considerably softer than in a typical Earl Grey tea, or even in a typical Earl Grey Creme for that matter. In fact, it is the vanilla that reaches the palate first. Smooth and creamy – and beautifully sweet! The bergamot is more of a sneaky flavor in this blend – peeking in and out of the sip. While I do love my bergamot strong and bold, it is also nice to come across one that is more mysterious like this.
The Neem, Tulsi and lavender do not contribute a lot of flavor to the cup, but I can taste a very subtle mint-like tone from the Tulsi. The lavender presents a VERY delicate yet distinct note that develops as I continue to sip, but it never becomes a strong presence in the cup.
Neem is not a taste that I’m very familiar with, I only remember trying it once or maybe twice. So, I can’t really tell you that I’m tasting Neem or not, but, what I can say is that I am familiar with the other flavors of this blend. I do detect a rather unusual sweetness – I want to describe it as an almost “wild” tasting sweetness – that is quite enjoyable.
This tea is a myriad of delicious flavors that makes for a very contemplative tea. It is aptly named “Achieve Clarity” as it does seem to recharge the mind and readies it to do what it does best – think! What a perfectly brilliant blend!
Flu Fighter from CaryTown Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: CaryTown Teas
Product Description:
Organic Flu Fighter Blend is a soothing medicinal blend that is designed to help your body fight infection.
Reputed ingredient properties: Ginger root and Lemon Verbena to calm an upset stomach, Elder berries & flower, Cardamom, Chrysanthemum and Holy Basil to boost your immune system and fight infection and reduce fever, Chamomile to sooth an aching body, Linden flower for nasal congestion and Hibiscus, which is extremely high in vitamin C.
Taster’s Review:
My husband has been sick for a few days; he has the flu. I don’t want the flu; but I don’t like needles, so I avoid shots whenever possible. Flu shots are optional so I don’t get them. I think I’d rather risk the flu than get a shot. That being said, I still don’t want to get the flu, so I am hoping that this tea will help out!
The first time I brewed a cup, I steeped it for only five minutes, which is my usual maximum steep time when it comes to teas with hibiscus. However, after those five minutes, I can barely taste the hibiscus. There is a hint of tartness that accents the elderberry flavor. This tisane has a very light taste and texture – and usually with a hibiscus blend, the texture is quite thick.
Which leads me to think that this tisane is safe for a longer steep time! For my second cup, I steeped it for a full eight minutes, and the flavor is much stronger. Even so, the flavor of the hibiscus is not the most dominate flavor here. There is – of course – some tartness from the hibiscus, and a little more thickness to the body than with the first cup, but the hibiscus did not overpower the cup the way I thought it might! What a delightful surprise, this tisane!
There is a bright, lemony flavor in the background of this tisane, and a sweet-tart berry taste in the foreground. I can taste hints of a minty-like taste from the tulsi (holy basil) that sort of weaves its way in and out of the sip. There is a slight warmth from the ginger and cardamom – not much! – and it gives it a very soothing effect. Adding to that sense of calm is the chamomile. The ginger and cardamom flavors develop as I make my way down the cup, but even by the end of the cup, the taste is not strongly spiced.
Before I tasted this, I expected it to taste quite medicinal, but it doesn’t. It does have a herbal-y taste to it, which is to be expected, but, it doesn’t come off as medicine-y, it is more like a pleasing chamomile tea that one might enjoy at the end of a long day to encourage a feeling of tranquility.
I do recommend a little drizzle of honey with this blend – honey is not only loaded with antioxidants, but it also enhances the flavor as well, which is a little bland without the honey. But with just a little honey, I am finding this to be a really enjoyable drink.
Tulsi Masala Chai from Yogic Chai
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Yogic Chai
Product Description:
Ingredients: Organic CTC BOP Assam, Organic Cardamom, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Ginger, Organic Cloves & Organic Tulsi (Holy Basil) Leaf
Taster’s Review:
This is a very flavorful chai. But then, I expected nothing less from Yogic Chai. When it comes to flavor – Yogic Chai delivers! Their chai is not too spicy, but not too mild either… it possesses just the right level of spiciness so that you know you’re drinking a chai blend without being smacked hard in the face with the spicy flavor.
Now I will admit that sometimes I like being smacked hard in the face with spice, but, when I want a delicious, evenly-spiced chai, Yogic Chai has never disappointed.
This Tulsi Masala Chai takes Yogic Chai’s award winning Original Masala Chai and adds a bit of dried Tulsi (also known as Holy Basil). The addition of the Tulsi brings a hint of mint-like flavor that is especially noticeable in the aftertaste. It is crisp and refreshing without overwhelming the balance of spices.
I like the subtle approach with the Tulsi here. It’s almost enchanting. Another delicious chai offering from Yogic Chai!
Cooling Mint Tulsi Blend from Tao of Tea
Tea Type: Herbal
Where To Buy: Tao Of Tea
Product Description:
Introduction: A blend of green leaf Tulsi and spearmint. The flavor is cooling with lingering aftertaste. The spearmint helps balance the sharpness of Tulsi and the brew can be enjoyed either hot or iced.
Ingredients: 100% Organic Green Leaf Tulsi, 100% Organic Spearmint
Certified Organic by: Quality Assurance International (QAI)
Tasters Review:
Cooling Mint Tulsi Blend from Tao of Tea really surprised me! Here’s why…
My sip started off a little gentle and mild and gained momentum as the sip continued!
It was more herbally at first but then grew into a wonderful mint experience. It was creamy but minty-fresh! I could taste the basil-likeness of the Tulsi and it was quite good. It left a refreshing aftertaste!
This is a great Tulsi Tisane! Or should I say HOLY LEAF Tisane? I think Holy Leaf makes it sound more important! In short, it’s basically a sweet basil…in case you aren’t familiar with Tulsi or Holy Leaf.
Tulsi has…
Potential Health Benefits including:
- Strengthens the immune system, promotes longevity and enhances well-being.
- Promotes heart health by lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure.
- Reduces the negative physical and psychological effects of stress.
- Increases the body’s efficiency in using oxygen, which improves stamina, strength and endurance.
- Promotes respiratory health.
- Helps with digestion and gastrointestinal problems.
- Neutralizes dangerous biochemicals that contribute to cancer, degenerative diseases and premature aging.
- Facilitates healthy liver function.
- Reduces cell and tissue damage from sun rays, radiation therapy and other radiation sources.
- Relieves inflammation from arthritis and other diseases.
- Helps fight infections.
If you haven’t tried Tulsi Tea or Holy Leaf Tea or Tisane’s before – give them a whirl! This is a very good one to try! I like it best paired with the minty-freshness and this tisane offers that and more!
Tulsi Harmony from TeaFrog
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal & Rooibos
Where to Buy: TeaFrog
Company Description:
Tulsi Herb, Rooibos, Ginger Bits, Cinnamon, Lemon Verbena, Chamomile Blossoms, Lavender, Rose Petals
Taster’s Review:
Wow! This is good! Surprisingly good!
Why surprising? Well, here’s the thing – I ordered this because it sounded different. I liked the name. Tulsi Harmony. But the truth of the matter is, I have only tried a couple of tulsi teas/tisanes, and while I enjoyed them quite a bit, tulsi still scares me just a little bit.
I don’t know why it scares me, it just does.
Well, hopefully this tisane will put my fears to rest and let me celebrate tulsi! Because this is so good.
The tulsi is the strongest flavor here – and it lends a somewhat spicy character to the cup that is similar to cloves. The ginger is very soft here, offering mere hints of its characteristic peppery nature. The cinnamon is a little stronger, and it is a sweet yet spicy cinnamon. These spicy notes are not over-the-top or in-your-face spicy, rather, they are quite … harmonious!
The rooibos is one flavor that is lacking in the cup. I am not getting a lot of rooibos rather distinctive woodsy/nutty flavor. But, as I’m not a huge fan of the woodsy flavor of rooibos, I am not missing it.
I can, however, distinguish the other flavors here – the chamomile, the lavender, the rose and the lemon verbena. These aren’t strong contributions to the overall cup, but, I can taste subtle hints of each ingredient. And I think that is what I like best about this tisane. It has a complexity that is rather uncommon in tisanes. It offers an interesting and delicious taste. I’m very glad I decided to try this today!